Ordyt frowns suspiciously as he sees the shirren being herded onto the linecrawler. "What'd they do?" the oread asks the nearer of the guards, inclining his head towards the other group. "And why are you lot handling it instead of the Dawn Patrol?"
Flint knows that only Dawnshore is under the protection and jurisdiction of the Dawn Patrol, and that every other bubble is essentially self-governing and self-policing. The total lack of Dawn Patrol therefore isn't unusual.
The two lashunta station guards do seem to indiscriminately directing their derision towards all the members of your group other than Dr. Taeress. They don't seem to have a positive attitude towards non-lashunta.
However, Sammad's mollifying words easily win the two over. One of them sniffs and says "Good enough Ifrit. You're here as long as Dr. Taeress here needs you, and no longer." The guard's eyes narrow at Ordyt's questions and he just says "None of your business, rockman. And those weak willed Dawn Patrol types are busy keeping their precious cathedral safe, instead of protecting the people."
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Once out in Asanatown's streets, Taeress beckons you closer to talk quietly. She rubs the furrow between her antennae with a finger as she says "That's new. Those two, and the other guards around the station, they're with the Sunrise Collective. A local lashunta rights group. I-" She shakes her head "Last time I was here was months ago, but they were just a group of radicals shouting at the sky and preaching to the downtrodden. Now... did you see those rifles they were carrying? They've armed themselves and taken over the Station! Where in the hells is Asanatown's militia?"
Mari glances back the way they came, and shrugs. "Seems like they are the militia now." Looking back at Taeress, she asks a question of her own. "What kind of support did they have before? That gear doesn't look cheap."
Once they move along, Flint quietly asks Doctor Taeress, ”The infosphere bulletin said the Cathedral bomber was yelling, ‘Mataras belongs to the Lashunta’. What is Mataras, and could these Sunrise Collective types be involved somehow?”
Taeress scowls at Marisol's question, her scorn directed toward the Sunrise Collective. "Everyone I knew thought they were a bunch of crazies, but I heard they had quite a bit of support among the people. You'd see them sometimes in public parks, ranting. I didn't think they had any money worth talking about though."
Sammad pauses to consider Dr. Taeress's words on this 'Sunrise Collective.' "Something strange is definitely going on...I'll try to reach out to some of the Cooperative's local contacts, and see if they have any information. In these...nervous times, I don't think it's wise to separate."
As Sammad starts heading out to talk to some of the passerby about recent events, all your comms devices buzz and the public holoscreens nearby all go blank. The screens flicker for a moment before settling on a local emergency broadcast channel. Your comms devices receive the same broadcast.
On the screen, a slender, handsome lashunta man wearing elegant dark armor sits in front of a flag bearing the silhouette of a lashunta head atop a yellow sun.
“Citizens of Asanatown,” he says, “I am Zeylan Trinipol, commander of the Sunrise Collective. In the past few days, I've personally had the pleasure of meeting many of you. Although our city is still reeling from the recent psychic assault, I've seen how you've stood strong against this horrible weapon used against us! I know many of you are still frightened or angry, and you’re right to be so. For too long, the lashunta of the Burning Archipelago have suffered, and now its clear that the Surge is no natural phenomenon, no vagary of Mataras' inner workings. No! The Surge is a weapon to oppress us. Meant to oppress OUR people while others are untouched! Even now, it hovers like an invisible sword over our necks, until the outsiders that designed it choose to finally strike."
"Our so-called leaders have done nothing. Have allowed outsiders to invade and threaten our city. But no longer!" He places a fist over his heart and stares intently at the viewers.
"As of today, the Sunrise Collective has taken the mantle of your protectors, working even now to secure our borders. Together with our allies in the Brass Dragons, we have assumed control of the city from our council of do-nothing politicians, bureaucrats, and sycophants. We’re putting new security procedures in place to protect our homes, our businesses, and our future."
"For your own safety and to make this transition as seamless as possible, please comply with instructions from all Collective public safety officers. Thank you for your patience as, together, we build a safer Asanatown." The man flashes a dazzling, earnest smile, then winks out.
A few nearby pedestrians express shock or concern, but others cheer or otherwise seemed buoyed by this news.
----
During the Psychic Surge, many fights and accidents broke out. There was widespread panic and a number of deaths both accidental and purposeful. The first group to respond to restore order were the Sunrise Collective rather than the local government. As a result, they gained a lot of respect among the local lashunta.
However, their stance is as Zeylan's broadcast indicated - they believe that the non-lashunta within Asanatown and beyond are to blame for the city's woes. Rumor has it that they've been rounding up "undesirables" and forcibly ejecting them from the city. Some say people have been injured or killed for resisting.
You also learn that the "Brass Dragons" the broadcast mentioned are a mercenary group. Despite the message of lashunta isolation from Zeylan, the Brass Dragons are an organization primarily made up of ifrits from the nearby bubble of Corona. Citizens have been instructed to treat the mercs as they would the Collective's own "public safety officers".
Flint will put in a word when Sammad’s exotic features may intimidate a meeker human or two already sensitized the the budding racially charged conflict.
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"Ah. So it's a coup." Ordyt remarks as his vidcom goes dark after the pronoucement. He stares thoughtfully at the blank screen for several long moments. "The Sunrise Collective doesn't seem to share my assessment about the Surge not being a weapon. We should reach out to the Dawn Patrol, or at least find out how they're responding to this. The last thing we want is to get caught up in a street battle for control of the bubbles!"
The oread shakes his head and taps his breastplate, over where the symbol of Sarenrae would rest. "Blessed Everlight, please show these people reason, and don't let it come to violence. And if it must, let the deaths be few and swift."
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”Odds are you are right, Ordyt. It could be a weapon, sure, but much more likely to be some kind of natural phenomenon—our best bet is to get the good Doctor to the DCI so she can process the Far Station data to give us some facts in place of this rampant conjecture these ‘Sunrise Collective’ types are using as a pretext to seize power,” observes Flint. ”Let’s keep our heads down and get her there quickly,” he adds.
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"Reminds me of the last time I was in Roselight..." Mari mutters to herself, hand hovering near but not quite on top of her sidearm. "We should hurry. I don't want to be caught on the streets when they start rounding up undesirables."
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As you step out into the Asanatown station, you quickly notice a total lack of Dawn Patrol guards. Instead, the station is manned by what look to be local uniformed security, all lashunta and very severe in their black and red uniforms. Two of them, hands on laser rifles, step forward as your group emerge and bee-line directly towards Dr. Taeress. They engage her with the same questions as the Dawn Patrol asked on the other side, but inspect her ID with a little more scrutiny.
The document satisfies both of them, but when Dr. Taeress mentions her bodyguards, one of them scowls at the group of you. They address Taeress, saying "I don't blame you for trying to find some safety in these trying times, but it isn't wise to use..." They almost sneer as they give you a once over "... just anyone you pick off the street. I'm certain we could arrange a group to help get you to the DCI HQ, and you can send these rascals back-"
Taeress raises a hand and speaks in a no-nonsense tone "No. I'm perfectly happy with this group. Now, I'm in a hurry." The lashunta station guard steps back with another suspicious glance for your group, but bows their head to Dr. Taeress. "Very well."
"Rascals?!" Belmarniss exclaims. "I am a Knight-Lieutenant of the Knights of Golarion! I'm the last person who'd do anything rascally!"
Her indignation prevents her from seeing what's going on as they leave.
Flint knows that only Dawnshore is under the protection and jurisdiction of the Dawn Patrol, and that every other bubble is essentially self-governing and self-policing. The total lack of Dawn Patrol therefore isn't unusual.
The two lashunta station guards do seem to indiscriminately directing their derision towards all the members of your group other than Dr. Taeress. They don't seem to have a positive attitude towards non-lashunta.
However, Sammad's mollifying words easily win the two over. One of them sniffs and says "Good enough Ifrit. You're here as long as Dr. Taeress here needs you, and no longer." The guard's eyes narrow at Ordyt's questions and he just says "None of your business, rockman. And those weak willed Dawn Patrol types are busy keeping their precious cathedral safe, instead of protecting the people."
"It sounds like what you need is a Star-Knight, then..." Belmarniss mutters. Then she frowns even further. "Probably should invest in a mind circlet when I have the creds. Maybe the locals would be less rude if we spoke telepathically."
Once out in Asanatown's streets, Taeress beckons you closer to talk quietly. She rubs the furrow between her antennae with a finger as she says "That's new. Those two, and the other guards around the station, they're with the Sunrise Collective. A local lashunta rights group. I-" She shakes her head "Last time I was here was months ago, but they were just a group of radicals shouting at the sky and preaching to the downtrodden. Now... did you see those rifles they were carrying? They've armed themselves and taken over the Station! Where in the hells is Asanatown's militia?"
Belmarniss frowns at Dr. Taeress' words, and nods grimly at Marisol's observation that this Collective seems to be the militia now.
"That's not a good sign...when a 'rights group' starts carrying guns, it means one of two things: they're either looking to defend themselves from an oppressive majority and have been pushed too far, or they ARE the oppressive majority looking to scare out any perceived 'others.' And given lashunta appear to make up the bulk of Asanatown's population, and what we've seen on the news, this sounds more like the latter."
As Sammad starts heading out to talk to some of the passerby about recent events, all your comms devices buzz and the public holoscreens nearby all go blank. The screens flicker for a moment before settling on a local emergency broadcast channel. Your comms devices receive the same broadcast.
On the screen, a slender, handsome lashunta man wearing elegant dark armor sits in front of a flag bearing the silhouette of a lashunta head atop a yellow sun.
“Citizens of Asanatown,” he says, “I am Zeylan Trinipol, commander of the Sunrise Collective. In the past few days, I've personally had the pleasure of meeting many of you. Although our city is still reeling from the recent psychic assault, I've seen how you've stood strong against this horrible weapon used against us! I know many of you are still frightened or angry, and you’re right to be so. For too long, the lashunta of the Burning Archipelago have suffered, and now its clear that the Surge is no natural phenomenon, no vagary of Mataras' inner workings. No! The Surge is a weapon to oppress us. Meant to oppress OUR people while others are untouched! Even now, it hovers like an invisible sword over our necks, until the outsiders that designed it choose to finally strike.""Our so-called leaders have done nothing. Have allowed outsiders to invade and threaten our city. But no longer!" He places a fist over his heart and stares intently at the viewers.
"As of today, the Sunrise Collective has taken the mantle of your protectors, working even now to secure our borders. Together with our allies in the Brass Dragons, we have assumed control of the city from our council of do-nothing politicians, bureaucrats, and sycophants. We’re putting new security procedures in place to protect our homes, our businesses, and our future."
"For your own safety and to make this transition as seamless as possible, please comply with instructions from all Collective public safety officers. Thank you for your patience as, together, we build a safer Asanatown." The man flashes a dazzling, earnest smile, then winks out.
A few nearby pedestrians express shock or concern, but others cheer or otherwise seemed buoyed by this news...
The broadcast makes Belmarniss cringe.
"Oh Holy Spirit of Golarion, I HATE it when I'm right! This is classic fascist demagoguery at its worst. It's like he took notes from 'Merciless,' 'Imperial Betrayal,' and a half-dozen medal acceptance speeches from Veskarium generals, mashed them together and took out anything remotely inspiring in them, leaving only bigotry and bloviating! *I* could write something better than that! You guys are right. We've got work to do. Asanatown needs some of the Inheritor's justice!" she says, pounding her fist into her palm.
Sammad considers the information he's gained from the citizenry of Asanatown, then relays it to the others. "The Collective are not operating alone...these 'Brass Dragons' they're working with are a mercenary company, mainly staffed with ifrit. I suppose they're also the source of the Collective's weapons."
Dr. Taeress looks awfully pale as the town-wide announcement ends, but her jaw is set in anger rather than concern. She offers wholehearted agreement to Belmarniss' take on the situation, adding "They've already unseated the city's council? Those bastards. Next they'll be after the DCI. We've always been happy to employ anyone and everyone if they're insightful and inquisitive. As a result, the HQ is filled with non-lashunta scientists."
"It's not just Nib that might be in trouble... let's go." She leads the way through the city's wide streets.
----
As you make your way across Asanatown, you witness a few non-lashunta here and there looking anxious and furtive, hurrying to their destination. For the most part, its lashunta citizens and members of the Sunrise Collective who are out in the streets. When the non-lashunta and a pair of Collective officers cross paths, the small confrontations you observe are tense, but are resolved peacefully as residents are told to return home for the time being.
However, not all interactions go so well. As you're making your way down a long boulevard surrounded by tall bronze and peach colored apartment blocks, you witness a small crowd up ahead. In the center of the crowd, two armored lashunta security officers drag a weeping kasatha family - two parents and a child - out of an apartment. The crowd of onlookers seems of mixed opinions. Some are shouting in protest, while others are egging the Collective agents on to 'teach those four arms a lesson!'. A third Collective officer, this one a human ifrit in dark armor, is throwing household items out the apartment’s open door and into the street. One adult kasatha attempts to resist, only to be punched in the face. The other adult frantically covers his face as the soldier restraining him tears away his mouth-scarf. In the center of the madness, the child wails for someone to help.
"Sammad, you'd best take the lead with the Collective here given the racial tensions involved. I'll work the crowd and see if we can put pressure on these bullies to leave the Kasatha alone," says Flint, assuming Sammad will be likewise unable to let this situation continue as it is currently unfolding.
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Sammad looks to Flint, slightly confused. "So we're getting involved, Captain?" He looks away, and mutters a prayer under his breath as he approaches the Collective agents. "Mother of Flames, smile on me..."
He proceeds towards the armored ifrit, clearing his throat while raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Excuse me, could you explain what you're doing to this family?"
Sammad turns to Flint, a slightly confused expression on his face. He looks to the screaming child, and then back to Flint, now looking concerned. "Captain, this situation is extremely volatile. I know you want to do the right thing, but If I-if we intervene and fail, we'll only make things worse-for them and for ourselves. Are you certain we should act?"
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Pausing for a moment to reconsider his rash action, Flint says, ”Understood, use your best judgement on getting involved and get the doctor to DCI if I am detained...I just can’t let this pass.”
A calm certainty falls over Flint that this is the right thing to do, even if it is risky. As a nod to caution, though, he will not approach the authorities directly, but instead try to rally the crowd against this injustice with pointed but softly spoken questions (as posted above).
"I'm with you, Captain," Ordyt doesn't take his eyes off the scene for a moment. "Can't just turn away from this. I'll back you up."
The corner of his mouth quirks in a chagrined grin at Dr. Taeress and Sammad. "Sorry for the trouble, Doc."
Mari stares at Sammad incredulously, before following after and stepping in front of Flint. Primarily addressing the crowd, she tries to shout over the noise. "All living things deserve compassion and respect! That is why Weydan walks among us in secret, to remind both us and himself that we are all equal. To teach himself humility, and us that anyone you meet may be a god in disguise." She shifts her focus and locks eyes on the Collective officer's helmet and continues. "Anyone. These people have done nothing to you. That child has done nothing to you. Leave them alone."
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Sammad looks to Flint, slightly confused. "So we're getting involved, Captain?" He looks away, and mutters a prayer under his breath as he approaches the Collective agents. "Mother of Flames, smile on me..."
"You're damn right we're getting involved, Sammad!" Belmarniss replies. "What kind of Star-Knight would I be if I let an injustice like this stand?"
Mari stares at Sammad incredulously, before following after and stepping in front of Flint. Primarily addressing the crowd, she tries to shout over the noise. "All living things deserve compassion and respect! That is why Weydan walks among us in secret, to remind both us and himself that we are all equal. To teach himself humility, and us that anyone you meet may be a god in disguise." She shifts her focus and locks eyes on the Collective officer's helmet and continues. "Anyone. These people have done nothing to you. That child has done nothing to you. Leave them alone."
She strides up next to Marisol and joins her.
"And Iomedae, she too walked among us as a mortal, protecting the innocent and championing justice! And she never forgot that, even as she stood before the Starstone and became a goddess. Ask yourselves, officers, is what you are doing justice? Are these people your enemy? Because an enemy would fight back, and it doesn't seem that this family wants to do that. Stand down, or on my honor as a Knight of Golarion, I will defend these innocents."
Sammad sighs as his comrades move forward, turning quickly to Dr. Taeress and giving a resigned sigh. "Bleeding hearts..." He gives the Doctor a wry grin. "Stay here, and take cover if this turns violent."
Then he moves forward behind them. Seeing that the girls and Flint are rallying the crowd, he decides to assist in his usual way. He addresses the officers directly, paying a longer glance at the other ifrit. "It is said Feronia, the Mother of Flames, holds victims in her warm embrace, and shows those who prey on the defenseless only the fires of her gaze. Which do you think you would be receiving, officers?" His voice raises as he asks the question, and his raised hands are beginning to glow slightly.
"You're angry, and scared, I understand," Ordyt moves to stand shoulder to shoulder with Belmarniss. "The Psychic Surge caught you by surprise and you don't know what it is, or if it will come back. But is abusing these poor people going to make you safer? Will you go home tonight to your families and tell them how you bravely ransacked the home of another family, whose only crime is being different from you? You stand upon the very Burning Mother herself, and yet you do not comport yourself in a way that brings honor to her! In the Everlight's name, leave these people in peace, and go home!"
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One by one, the members of the party step forward to confront this injustice from the angle of motivating the crowd. As you move in, Dr. Taeress does as well - no less interested in correcting this travesty than any of you are.
Your concerted interruption draws all eyes - five armed and passionate aliens of various types, and one lashunta scientist, are addressing a crowd of mostly lashunta. The crowd's initial reaction is a mix of cautious curiosity and outright alarm depending on their stance in the proceedings. A few of the more passionate anti-outsider members of the audience step up as if to shield their fellows from your group (despite being unarmed). As each of you begin to speak your part, the crowd collapses into uncertainty and eyeing each other.
Dr. Taeress adds her own plea, saying "No matter what you think these kasatha were doing, they deserve better. They are citizens of Asanatown as much as any of us. And even if they weren't, are you all so angry that you wouldn't give them the benefit of a fair hearing?"
While the crowd seems to lose the fervor that was building in some of its members, the Collective officers are not so easily swayed. One of the two lashunta, a gangly damaya woman, scowls deeply at your words. She raises her voice in response "And what did Weydan, Sarenrae do for us when we were all attacked. Nothing! We have to take our safety in our own hands." She throws open her hand and points at the cringing kasatha "These two are subversives - plotting to tear apart the new order the Collective has brought to Asanatown."
She raises her wrist into the air to show you and the whole crowd a holo-projected image of an infosphere page. The page appears to be a chat forum with posts from "Samas" and "Haen", who both offer angry statements like >Someone should deal with that Zeylan. He's out of control. Why didn't him and all his other Collective cronies not just shoot each other during the Surge?<
The lashunta turns her attention back to the two kasatha. "Yours." The kasatha both look frightened, but the male one speaks up angrily while covering his mouth with a pair of hands. "Yes. Yes, I wrote that. But only because I was upset and angry. I never intended to DO anything. Speaking isn't a crime! Wasn't a crime in the Asanatown I knew!"
The kasatha's words strike through the current of uncertainty you managed to put into the crowd. While it inflames a few of the more passionate lashunta, most look at each other with chagrin, and before long individuals start turning disapproving stares at the three Collective officers.
One member of the crowd calls out "Isn't this too much?" only to be echoed by a few other voices.
The three Collective officers are caught off guard as the crowd turns mild. They share a look between them, with the ifrit looking rather irritated by this turn of events. Finally, the lashunta woman that spoke up shrugs "Let it not be said that the Collective doesn't serve the will of the people. She points a finger at the kasatha. "If we hear anything else from you. If we receive ANY tip offs. If you so much as contemplate harming one of Asanatown's true citizens. We'll be back. Any you won't be treated nearly so fairly."
With a last glower at your group, the three Collective officers gather together and flee the scene.
Marisol watches the thugs melt away with barely contained contempt. Cowards.
Her expression softens as she turns back to the kasatha family, and she begins to walk toward them. Kneeling in front of the child, she smiles and offers a hand. "You're safe now. My name is Mari. What's yours?"
Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, Ordyt shakes his head in relief at the peaceful resolution. "We're on their sensors now," he mutters under his breath. As Mari introduces herself the oread moves towards the scattered belongings that had been thrown out the window and starts gathering it all up.
"Belmarniss, do you know a repair spell? A few of these appliances were damaged," he asks as he brings an armful of belongings over to the kasatha. "Do you have somewhere safe to stay for a while?"
Flint moves over to the kasatha male and says, Greetings, perhaps keeping a low profile would be wise just now...I can’t promise anything, but if you get into further trouble, contact me and I will see what I can do.” Flint offers his comm channel details and keeps an eye out for any other threats as the crowd (hopefully) disperses.
Once the danger has passed, he bids goodbye to the kasathas and moves along with the rest of the group to deliver the good doctor to DCI.
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Belmarniss gives the Collective thugs a stern glare as they retreat. While she was itching to argue against their claims, she knew that the whole point of this confrontation had been to STOP a fight from breaking out, not start one.
Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, Ordyt shakes his head in relief at the peaceful resolution. "We're on their sensors now," he mutters under his breath. As Mari introduces herself the oread moves towards the scattered belongings that had been thrown out the window and starts gathering it all up.
"Belmarniss, do you know a repair spell? A few of these appliances were damaged," he asks as he brings an armful of belongings over to the kasatha. "Do you have somewhere safe to stay for a while?"
"Good! If they've got a problem with us, then they're welcome to challenge us, instead of picking on innocents!"
She nods and moves to assist Ordyt in picking up the scattered belongings.
"Yes, I do."
She demonstrates by picking up a broken item and holding it up in front of her face. Her brand begins glowing as wisps of purplish light and smoke envelop the item, before receding to reveal it good as new!
"How many times can I cast that? As many as I need! Not as thorough as dedicated real labor, but it does the job well enough."
The young kasatha eagerly takes Marisol's hand and pulls herself to her feet. "Jen. It's a good thing you came, they were definitely going to kill us. The infosphere said so." At that statement the older kasatha woman shakes her head "Come on Jen, didn't we tell you not to believe everything you read online?"
The male kasatha rummages through the family's scattered items and pulls out a spare scarf that he ties over his face before turning to you all. "I don't know how to thank you all. But even so, thank you for speaking up." He wrings a pair of hands. "Even with our family in one piece, I'm not sure if its safe to stay in Asanatown any more. Especially not for Jen. I think we'll see about moving out. If we can before they come back."
Both of the kasatha adults are still shaken, but thankful for Bel and Ordyt's additional help with recovering and repairing the scattered household goods. After a few minutes, they begin moving their repaired things back into their small apartment.
----
With the crowd dispersed, Dr. Taeress spends a moment looking up and down the street for any other Sunrise Collective agents. Finally, she shrugs helplessly "I suppose staying around here to keep an eye out won't do them much good. Let's keep going."
----
You don't go more than 30 minutes before you reach another large crowd. In an intersection up ahead, a few Collective officers—two ifrits and a lashunta—confront a mob of protesters. The protesters are lashunta, with a few other species mixed in, armed only with holographic signs, reading, “Not Our Collective!” and “Asanatown for Everyone!” The officers, outnumbered and irritated, stand with rifles out but raised into the air, calling out warnings to disperse. From the back of the mob, a bottle sails into the air, smashing at the officers’ feet.
Flint leans over towards Sammad, saying ”Sammad, shall we try again? You calm the ifrit and I’ll work the crowd?”
...overheard in the crowd...
”Yes, yes, Asanatown for everyone, I thank you for including me. Yes, they hear you, yes I hear you, but what about the infosphere? Who will tell them?” Yes, take your friends and be off to spread the word! No threats, just peaceful inclusion, right? No, no, that way, away from the guards with the itchy trigger fingers.”
Sammad can pick up on the officer's barely restrained hostility, and he nods as Flint gives him orders. "I think that would be best, yes. Wish me luck, Captain."
And with that Sammad presses forward, moving easily through the crowd until he stands before the officers. He looks from the crowd to the officers, then chuckles slightly. "Now officers, you don't think you'll need those guns for a bunch of civvies with signs, do you? Why don't you put them away before someone does something rash..."
"Take it from me, Jen, oftentimes the infosphere is nothing but lies. Especially when folks are scared." Standing and turning to the mother, Mari says, "I'm glad we got here in time. Hate to say it, but you're probably right. Best thing to do is get someplace safe. If you need anything, though, message me. We've got to look out for each other, since the 'authorities' sure won't." After giving them her contact information, she hurries off to catch up with the others.
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Mari grins at the sight of the civilians already standing up to the Collective goons. "Ha! See, they think just cause they've got expensive gear that everyone's just going to roll over for them. They've got another thing coming."
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The young kasatha eagerly takes Marisol's hand and pulls herself to her feet. "Jen. It's a good thing you came, they were definitely going to kill us. The infosphere said so." At that statement the older kasatha woman shakes her head "Come on Jen, didn't we tell you not to believe everything you read online?"
"WHO on the infosphere?" Belmarniss asks. "You haven't been lurking on forums where Collective members have been talking amongst themselves, have you? If they're talking like that when they think no outsiders are listening, things could be worse than we expected...either way, you're pretty brave, Jen. If you hadn't called for help, we might not have seen those thugs harassing your family."
The male kasatha rummages through the family's scattered items and pulls out a spare scarf that he ties over his face before turning to you all. "I don't know how to thank you all. But even so, thank you for speaking up." He wrings a pair of hands. "Even with our family in one piece, I'm not sure if its safe to stay in Asanatown any more. Especially not for Jen. I think we'll see about moving out. If we can before they come back."
Both of the kasatha adults are still shaken, but thankful for Bel and Ordyt's additional help with recovering and repairing the scattered household goods. After a few minutes, they begin moving their repaired things back into their small apartment.
Belmarniss gives the father a bow before setting to work getting the family's things fixed.
"No need for thanks. It was my duty as a Knight of Golarion! Still, I think you're right. If those Collective folks are still salty about being told off later, they may decide to come back when they think we won't be around."
With the crowd dispersed, Dr. Taeress spends a moment looking up and down the street for any other Sunrise Collective agents. Finally, she shrugs helplessly "I suppose staying around here to keep an eye out won't do them much good. Let's keep going."
Rejoining the others to continue their journey, Belmarniss decides to make some more conversation as they walk.
"Dr. Taeress, I know you said the Collective is way more active now than it ever was, but what were they like before this recent turn of events? It seems a bit sudden for what you described as a pack of doomsaying street-preachers to shift into a fascist pseudo-militia."
You don't go more than 30 minutes before you reach another large crowd. In an intersection up ahead, a few Collective officers—two ifrits and a lashunta—confront a mob of protesters. The protesters are lashunta, with a few other species mixed in, armed only with holographic signs, reading, “Not Our Collective!” and “Asanatown for Everyone!” The officers, outnumbered and irritated, stand with rifles out but raised into the air, calling out warnings to disperse. From the back of the mob, a bottle sails into the air, smashing at the officers’ feet.
"Wouldn't you know it? Not a moment's respite," Belmarniss comments dryly.
"While I agree with you, Marisol, I suspect those ***holes aren't going to respect the right to assembly any more than their fellows did the right to free speech," she says. Seeing Sammad and Flint moving to work their diplomatic magic, she decides to hold back unless the situation turns more aggressive.
The kasatha family gratefully accept comms data from Marisol and Flint, promising to not contact them unless its a real emergency.
Belmarniss' question to Dr. Taeress leaves the Doctor looking thoughtful. "I spent a lot of time at Far Station, so maybe I never properly understood them. But you're right that the transition seems to have been fairly sudden. Once we get in contact with the other DCI members, maybe they'll have a clearer picture."
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Flint ends up having a tougher time with the crowd than before. He finds them focused on making their grievances known to the three Collective officers and his own suggestions fall on deaf ears. A chorus of chants rises from the crowd, lambasting the Collective agents for their policy "Not our town! Not our town! Not our town!"
At Sammad's comment, one of the two ifrits half-turns to address him "They're a danger to public order, and a danger to themselves." The ifrit narrows his eyes to slits, hissing quietly "I'll teach them a lesson in respect, if need be."
”Time for some reinforcements,” thinks Flint...
Clicking on his crew comm channel, Flint *requests* help from the rest of the crew :
”Ordyt, keep an eye out for that bottle thrower and see if you can prevent more thrown items.”
”Mari, Belmarniss, see if you can set us up with a live stream to the infosphere—I am going to try to get the crowd focused on their message and not the armed guards.”
Now addressing the crowd at large, speaking loudly and pointing at the camera, Flint implores the crowd, ”There, plead your case on the Infosphere! Show the whole Archipelago that Asanatown is for everyone and its citizens can protest peacefully and powerfully!”
Ordyt nods, but looks perturbed. "Will do Captain, but we're packing a lot of heat...I don't want it to look like we're trying to hide in the crowd."
Still, the oread dutifully scans the crowd, hoping to spot any provocateurs in time to intervene.
Sammad hears Flint over comms and sees his fellows have managed to set up a camera. He smirks to himself as a plan comes together in his mind, then turns to the ifrit officers again, the picture of composure. "Alright, tough guy...I know you two aren't from around here. I know who you work for, actually, and I'm sure your employers wouldn't want the fallout that will result from two of their own being streamed as they fired on civilians..." He makes a long glance towards the camera, then looks back to the ifrit. "So again: I suggest putting your weapons down."
As Bel sets up a livestream, she immediately notices that she's having a heck of a time connecting to anything other than the local Asanatown infosphere. In fact, it's as though the infosphere connections to the greater Burning Archipelago are entirely offline! All she can get are archived backup pages. Nevertheless, she's able to set up a stream to at least broadcast to the Asanatown infosphere.
As she turns her mini computer to the crowd, a wave of uncertainty runs through them. After all, having their face and actions recorded here might be a dangerous thing. Nevertheless, Flint's words light the fire in them again, and they begin to fill the streets with their chanting "Asanatown together! The Collective doesn't speak for us!"
The three Collective agents turn their full attention to you all, the closest ifrit pointing a finger at Bel's datapad. "Turn that thing off, drow!" His words crackle - he's not a native speaker of common. "Turn that off before we arrest you for breaking public order!" But before he can step in to try to take the datapad by force, Sammad cuts him off.
The two ifrits face down Sammad with open contempt as he talks, and both look to be about to point their rifles at him as he finishes. But the lashunta Collective officer raises his voice. "Damn it all, but he's right. We're not here to start shooting anyone. Even if they're rabble rousing outsiders." The lashunta spits to the side. "Let's go. HQ'll have a better plan for how to deal with... all this." He waves a hand at the chanting crowd.
The two ifrits look for a moment like they're going to ignore his orders, but then they holster their weapons and fall back. The group confers to each other over comms for a minute and then the lashunta addresses the crowd "All of you! We hear your complaints, and will bring them to Zeylan. But! We're doing this for your own good. If you're trying to undo all the good we've done, well, the Collective will treat you like the subversives you've become." His brow furrows "Please! Let this go! We'll all be safer if-"
A member of the crowd draws back an arm, getting ready to throw something. The lashunta Collective officer cuts off and nods to the ifrits and they head back up the road.
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Sammad maintains his prim smile as the ifrit back down, and as they turn away to leave he calls out in an artificially pleasant tone, "Happy to help! Hope you remember this next time!"
His fake smile vanishes as he turns back towards his fellows. He gives Bel and Marisol a curt nod, then marches straight up to Flint. "That was astoundingly foolish. They almost shot me, Flint. So I will not help you indulge your hero complex again until we've gotten Dr. Taeress to the DCI safely. Am I clear?"
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Mari leans over Bel's shoulder, trying to figure out what the hell is going on with the infosphere. Whispering to the Knight, she says "It looks like we're cut off from the rest of the Archipelago. How could someone knock out an entire bubble like that?"
She turns and rolls her eyes at Sammad's comments. "After everything we ran into on that ship, you're worried about a few jackbooted rent-a-cops taking potshots? We were mostly worried about the civilians, but the truth is you saved the lives of those goons. They'll realize that by the time they get back to Kaer Bastard or whatever they call their hideout." With that, she returns her attention to figuring out what she thinks is the real crisis: why is the infosphere down?
Ordyt looks troubled as he watched the three irregulars withdraw. "I thought you said the Collective was a lashunta nationalist organization, Dr. Taeress. So why do we keep seeing fireborn among their ranks? That one fellow...his accent was strange."
The oread slowly shakes his head, concern and puzzlement evident in his expression. "Sammad is right about getting to the DCI quickly though. Hopefully they'll have some means of contacting the Dawn Patrol there."
Flint is taken aback a bit by Sammad’s tone, but he accepts the Ambassador’s concern, saying, ”Well then, let’s hope I can talk our way out of a full scale civil war should it come to that. It doesn’t seem to be too far off at this rate.”
To Doctor Taeress, he simply says, ”Let’s move.”
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"Classic tactical setup: when you control the information, you control the situation. They probably had someone on the inside who could monitor this stuff. But I've been bypassing lockouts since I was 30 years old," Belmarniss replies to Marisol as she works. She pointedly ignores the ifrit trying to get her to stop.
Once the matter's been settled for the moment, she listens to the conversation with the others. When Sammad chastises Flint for getting involved, she scoffs.
"Hero complex? Sammad, please, if you should be concerned about anyone in this group having a hero complex it's me!"
As they proceed, she makes small-talk with Ordyt.
"Sammad said they're Brass Dragon mercenaries. Figures that a group of fascist edgelord LARPers wouldn't have the numbers or guns to take over the bubble themselves. In come the fighters who value money over discipline, and you've turned your movement into an occupation. Probably the first to go if the Collective solidifies power here. We can't let that happen."
Then she stops, and though her shades hide it, the others can tell her eyes just widened with realization.
"That means they'd have needed creds to hire them...or they're on loan from someone ELSE who payed for them. Someone else who wants to make sure the Collective succeeds!"